Stick Together

This episode examines how war and militarism shape workers’ lives and labour struggles: DP World’s AI automation push threatens over 1,000 skilled port jobs while shifting control of critical supply‑chain infrastructure offshore; Australia’s fuel insecurity—hollowed refineries and a depleted tanker fleet—exposes us to global choke points and the fallout of foreign military campaigns; Victoria’s education strike highlights domestic austerity and the costs borne by public services. Feature: a translated excerpt from USB’s webinar “War on Women: The Price of Rearmament,” linking rearmament, gendered harms and union resistance.

In an attempt to undermine the collective amnesia of the working class of it's own history first up we hear from Sean Scalmer here at the launch of his book A Fair Day's Work: The Quest to Win Back Time and follow up with voices of working women at the Melbourne International Working Women's Day Rally here this year.

In this episode of Stick Together, listen to interviews and speeches from Neighbourhood Houses Victoria's recent rally to raise much needed funds for staff and operations. Following that report learn about the Geelong and Melbourne Strategic assessments. Are they a sign of change in industries working in green spaces or more the same green washing?Neighbourhood Houses Victoria - https://www.nhvic.org.au/post/keep-our-doors-open-campaignGreen Left Article - https://www.greenleft.org.au/2025/1422/news/community-pushes-back-geelong-council-wages-war-first-nations-communitiesGeelong Defence Alliance - https://geelonganarchists.org/2023/05/04/the-geelong-defence-alliance-local-government-and-the-war-industry/Melbourne Strategic Assessment Review - www.researchgate.net/publication/369932255_Evaluating_the_Melbourne_Strategic_Assessment-Elegant_on_process_currently_failing_on_implementation

In this weeks episode we hear the translations of the statements that were given by members of the USB and CALP among others at the national assembly that was held on the 23rd of January in Genova in support of the then upcoming internationa strike against the drive to war that happened on the 6th of Febuary and the ongoing campaign for the working class to oppose capitalist war.

Stick Together is a half-hour weekly show about workers rights and current affairs. This week's episode of stick together brigs you union news ad a live recording of the 'members first' campaign launch for the election at the United workers union.

In this episode of Stick Together Amy shares her experiences and thoughts about gardening and landscaping. This is the beginning of an ongoing project of hers to call out worker and environmental issues in industries that are supposedly doing Earth Care. Examples of industires include, gardening and landscaping, aboriculture, horticulture, conservation and so on.If you are interested in sharing your experiences in these sorts of industries or have some wins to celebrate then email us at sticktogether3cr@gmail.com or call the station at 03 94198377.

This week on Stick Together we explore the emmergence of AI and its increasing impacts on workers in Australia. Headlines:Resignation of CFMEU's National Secretary and Victorian Executive Officer, Zach Smith on 21/01/26Australian nurses and midwives federation’s South Australia (ANMF SA) branch will be marching in response to the state government’s failure to provide a response to ongoing public sector Enterprise Agreement negotions Work place fatality on farm in Beech Forest  Guests:ACTU Assistant Secretary Joseph Mitchell, discussing the important role unions will play in mitigating the risks posed by AIMaritime Union of Australia (MUA) Assistant National Secretary Jake Field, discussing the MUA's ongoing campaign against DP world's attempts to automate Australian ports

Headlines:- MUA Carnival Cruise ships exploitation- HWU Strike Action- PSA NSW David Dungay Jr. Plaque Main section:Academic Nick Everett Excerpt from address about the Pilbara Strike at Perth Trades Hall in 2024 as part of a symposium held by the Perth Branch of the Australasian Society for the Study of Labour History.  ...The sheep's wool dragged and the squatters sworeAnd talked nice words till their tongues got soreAnd their bellies swelled with so much liesBut the blackfellers shooed them off like flies. The sheep got lost on the squatters' run.The shearing season was nearly done.Said the squatters eaten up with greed,"We'll pay good wages and give good feed." The blackfellers sheared the wool and thenGot their wages like working-men.The squatters' words were stiff and sore,"We won't pay wages like that no more."...Excerpt from the poem "Clancey and Doolery and Don Mcleod" by Dorothy Hewett

On today's show we chat about Venezuela and Latin America, and the ongoing impact of US intervention in the region — including sanctions, political destabilisation, and military aggression from the United States.To unpack what’s really going on — beyond the headlines — I’m joined by two guests with deep experience and analysis.Federico Fuentes is the Editor of LINKS – International Journal of Socialist Renewal, a long-time Latin America solidarity activist, and a member of the Socialist Alliance. He lived in Venezuela for several years, working as a researcher and correspondent for Green Left from Caracas during the first decade of the Bolivarian Revolution under Hugo Chávez.He brings both on-the-ground experience and a long view of the political processes shaping Venezuela and the region today.Also joining us is Carlos Eduardo Morreo.Carlos is a Venezuelan academic and anti-colonial activist, based here in Naarm/Melbourne, and is part of the Green Institute. His work focuses on imperialism, colonialism and global power, and he’s been an important voice challenging mainstream narratives about Latin America and the Global South.Together, we’ll be discussing what US intervention really looks like in practice, why Venezuela continues to be targeted, and what genuine international solidarity means in 2026. As well as union news where we take a look at some of the big industrial stories bubling away as we begin 2026.

Ballarat: In 1954, the location of monster meetings of miners and the Eureka Stockade.On December 3 2025, on a roundabout on Bakery Hill in Ballarat, now surrounded by new developments and multinational fast food chains, we hear some of the Eureka Australia Medal Award Speeches, as part of the 171st Anniversary of the Rebellion. These are lifetime awards presented by Reclaim the Radical Spirit & Ballarat Regional Trades & Labour Council (BTRLC), and stories from the medalwinners.Introductory words from:Dr Joe Toscano, MC and with Reclaim the Radical SpiritAngela McCarthy, Secretary of BRTLCMedalwinners:Dick Ryan, Seamens' Union of Australia - later the MUA;   'Don't ask what Unions can do you you, but what you can do for the Union'Eve Scarfe member of international peace brigades in Central America,   Medal was awarded in absentia - listen to her life story hereVasalia Govender, former HSR with Injured Workers Support Team,    On IWST, currently supporting 572 injured workers across Australia,Nancy Atkin, lifelong activist   With peoples' history: Vietnam War, 3CR Community Radio, Trade Union organising,Rev. Dr. Robert Stringer, retired Uniting Church Minister   Activist histories, his own journey into radical politics in the Pacific and campaigns. Head to www.3cr.org.au/eureka171 for more recordings from this day and to hear from other speakers, including Dr Anne Beggs-Sunter (Historian at Federation University Ballarat), Doug Stewart (longtime unionist BLF/CFMEU, liver transplant survivor) and medalwinner Ian Fullerton (CFMEU member, dedicated local community member & volunteer with the Soup Bus, Ballarat Trades Hall, and more).

Annie presents an analysis of the political ecosystem in which our unions exist, including the peak body (ACTU) and the Labor party, which was borne from the need to represent working class interests in parliament. She presents two case studies of unions that have been put into administration, with a focus on Labor Party political outcomes vs unions' core business - members' wages and conditions. We begin with a mini-review of the CFMEU Construction & General Division administration saga, since special legislation passed both houses of Parliament in August 2024 after a sustained legacy media smear campaign. The Red Queen approach of dismantling the CFMEU's core business via 'removed persons' in its delegate-organiser structure may be party of a larger politic, at the low cost of workers' lives and livelihoods.Next, recapping the cutthroat Game-of-Thrones style administration of the HSU/HWU and fear and loathing responses of some of the lowest-paid workers in that industry to a politicking leadership which landed the union in administration by June 2025. And in a whirlwind finale, we hear from HWU organisers, members, and supporters rallying in front of Parliament on 4 December as part of their 'Stand Together, Win Together' campaign, the culmination of months of hard work - a David and Goliath fight not just for wages n conds, but for the life of their union.

On this weeks episode of Stick Together host James Brennan brings you some reflection on the year of union struggle, union news and a case from fair work. We speak with James Crafti who has just been to fair work over an unfair dismissal case.

An interview with IWGB, Independent Workers of Great Britain, Organizer Rema talking about Pan-Africanism, Internationalism and the organization of gig economy workers. “Our revolution is not a public-speaking tournament. Our revolution is not a battle of fine phrases. Our revolution is not simply for spouting slogans that are no more than signals used by manipulators trying to use them as catchwords, as codewords, as a foil for their own display. Our revolution is, and should continue to be, the collective effort of revolutionaries to transform reality, to improve the concrete situation of the masses of our country.”― Thomas Sankara

Monash has been forced by the Federal Court to pay almost 1/2 million in unpaid wages to academics at Monash in a landmark settlement. We speak to Michael Ciaravolo one of the two lead applicants about the win in a court case sparked by the NTEU.We finish the program with a recognition of the International Disability Day. Workers who experience disability through work place accidents often have a hard road to walk. We hear one story from Danielle who has found balance after years of struggle.

"And here we are in L.ACity Hall's falling downThere is no escapeWhen a class war comes to townClass war, class warClass war, class warThis war, that warClass war, last war"- The Dils

On this week's episode host James bring you another episode of Stick Together with union news from across the country. And a recorded talk from Adam from Victorian Socialists about the equal pay campaign which took place across the country culminating in a victory in 2012. This campaign has some lessons for today's current fight within the community sector as the ASU and it's members again fight for their pay.

In this episode of stick together, new host Amy joins the team to interview Cecilia from Vahpa Pulse about the rank and file challenge to the merger of VAHPA with HACSU. Listen to learn about issues raised about the transparency and democracy of the VAHPA leadership. UPDATE! Since the recording off this episode the third petition to VAHPA leadership has ben apporved and an general meeting has been called to to discuss the merger.VAHPA members can attend the meeting on the 11th of Decemeber @ 11am Solidarity Hall at Trades Hall 54 Victoria Street , Carlton 3053.

Today's program looks at OH&S, work place safety, from a number of angles. Up close and personal, the broader lens of the class struggle and finally the importance of Unions in that struggle.

This week's episode of stick together brings you union news from across the country as well as an in-depth look at the social and community service sector. The ASU which covers workers in this field is fighting proposed changes to the pay structure for those on the SCHADS award. Host James Brennan speaks with the ASU's Phillipa Balk about these changes and the campaign to fight back.

Weaving the braid of our shared struggle, on this stick together episode we listen to important voices from the movement and bring them toegther with reporting around the world to demonstrate how truly linked our struggles are and that when we are united in a common goal we can achieve what we want. Freedom and dignity for all.